AVM MONDAY R. MORGAN, National Coordinator, Benue Rebirth Movement (BRM)
Equal Opportunity Crusader of the Year
Air Vice-Marshal Monday Riku Morgan (Rtd) is one of the foremost security professionals and consultants in Nigeria today. The fighter pilot from Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, served in various top-level combat and command positions in the Nigerian Air Force before he retired as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Intelligence.
He was educated at Wesley Central School and Wesley High School, Otukpo, Benue State, before proceeding to the Nigerian Defence Academy. He commenced his military career as a member of the 25th regular combatant course in January 1979. Certified as a full-winged pilot in 1983, and a qualified Flying Instructor. The young officer participated in various operations within and outside Nigeria, including the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Liberia and Sierra leone and peacekeeping Force in Angola where he was the Chief Air Support Officer (CASO)of the operations, with about 15 U.N airplanes under his command.
Some of his appointments include; included: Director, Electronic Warfare; Senior Air Staff Officer, Mobility Command and Tactical Air Command; Air Officer Commanding AOC Logistics Command; Commandant, Armed Forces Resettlement Centre; and Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI).
On retirement from military service, AVM Morgan took to socio-political activism. He became one of the founders of Benue Rebirth Movement (BRM), a socio-political advocacy group focused on addressing the political isolation and marginalization of the Benue South Senatorial District (Zone C) within Benue State politics. As the National Coordinator of BRM, AVM Morgan leverages his experience to promote unity, development, and good governance. The movement which is known for its advocacy programmes has elevated the discourse on power-sharing and has successfully brought the issue of equitable power distribution to the forefront of Benue State’s political conversation. It highlights that historically, all civilian Governors of the state have come from the Tiv ethnic group (Zones A and B), a situation the BRM argues marginalizes the Idoma, Igede and other minorities (Zone C).
BRM advocates for equitable representation in government at both state and Federal levels, condemning cases of lopsidedness and commending fairness. Since it’s formation in 2020, BRM under AVM Morgan’s leadership has held several town hall meetings and rallies; engaged with political, traditional, spiritual and community leaders across Benue State to foster dialogue, promote unity, and discuss strategies for the socio-political and economic “rebirth” of the Benue South people.
The movement works to build bridges, foster dialogue with political opponents, and portray governance as a shared responsibility, advocating for a culture of mutual respect among leaders in the state.
The primary achievement of BRM lies in its persistent advocacy and mobilization of the Benue South people to push for a more inclusive and equitable political landscape in Benue State. His contributions to society over the years have attracted recognitions and awards across the country, including the 2016 Good Governance and Leadership Man of the Year award and many others.
The nomination of AVM Monday Morgan as The Top10 Magazine’s Equal Opportunity Crusader of the Year is in recognition of his visionary leadership in piloting the affairs of Benue Rebirth Movement (BRM) as a leading advocate for equity, justice and equal rights for all citizens of Nigeria, especially the people of Benue South Senatorial District and other ethnic minorities.
He is a title holder of Jukunwanu of the kwararafa kingdom; ABENWU-(umbrella). Married to Prof Regina Morgan with 3 children.
